Humanitarian Response to the Pakistan Floods

Inquiry concluded, Report and Government Response published

In July 2010, heavy rains triggered floods in several parts of Pakistan, resulting in loss of life, widespread displacement and damage to infrastructure and property. The floods have affected more than 20 million people in an area of at least 160,000 square kilometres. More than 1,700 people have lost their lives and 1.9 million homes have been damaged or destroyed.

The response to the Pakistan floods is complicated by military operations in parts of the country which have already created large numbers of internally displaced people living in temporary accommodation. The UK Government has earmarked £134 million in response to the current UN appeal.

DFID announced a review of its humanitarian aid provision in July. The review will look at how the UK can: respond to humanitarian needs; help ensure future disaster responses are better prepared and coordinated; and work with international bodies and UN agencies in emergency situations to ensure that the global response to disasters improves.

Invitation to submit Written Evidence

The Committee invites written submissions from interested organisations and individuals, especially those from developing countries on the following points:

The Government of Pakistan’s leadership in responding to the floods, including needs assessment and response management; as well as coordination between the Government, the military, donors, NGOs, UN agencies and the private sector;

The management, quantity and quality of DFID’s response to the emergency, both through multilateral channels and bilaterally including: o whether the right balance was struck between bilateral and multilateral response;o the performance of the ‘cluster system’ and other donor coordination mechanisms;o coordination between DFID, the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth office in the provision of humanitarian and longer term development assistance;o An assessment of special disbursement accounts created at the suggestion of the UK Government;

The response of UK-based charities and philanthropic organisations to the emergency;

Whether the provision of humanitarian assistance to those displaced by the recent floods and longer term internally displaced persons is sufficient, efficient, effective and cost effective;

How quickly livelihoods can be restored, assets protected and food security provided;

How to improve disaster risk reduction strategies with the Government of Pakistan and with local communities;

Lessons for future disasters, both for DFID, the UN and affected governments, paying particular attention to the likely impacts of climate change.

The deadline for submitting written evidence is Tuesday 14 December 2010.

Written evidence submitted should:

If possible, be provided electronically in MS Word or Rich Text format by e-mail to indcom@parliament.uk. If submitted by e-mail or e-mail attachment, a letter should also be sent validating the e-mail. The letterhead should contain your full postal address and contact details

Begin with a one page summary if it is longer than six pages

Have numbered paragraphs

Avoid the use of colour or expensive-to-print material.

Submissions can also be sent by post to International Development Committee, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London, SW1P 3JA.

Material already published elsewhere should not form the basis of a submission, but may be referred to within written evidence, in which case a hard copy of the published work should be included. If a number of published documents are sent to accompany written evidence, these should be listed in the covering email.

Written evidence submitted must be kept confidential until published by the Committee, unless publication by the person or organization submitting it is specifically authorised.

Once submitted, evidence is the property of the Committee. The Committee normally, though not always, chooses to make public the written evidence it receives, by publishing it on the internet (where it will be searchable), by printing it or by making it available through the Parliamentary Record Office.

If there is any information you believe to be sensitive you should highlight it and explain what harm you believe would result from its disclosure. The Committee will take this into account in deciding whether to publish or further disclose the evidence.

It would be helpful, for Data Protection purposes, if individuals wishing to submit written evidence send their contact details separately in a covering letter. You should be aware that there may be circumstances in which the House of Commons will be required to communicate information to third parties on request, in order to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Publications

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